The Henderson County Commissioners Court Tuesday tabled a change in hours for the Clint W. Murchison Library in Athens.

Head Librarian Lori Lee suggested the change in response to a cut in the money set aside for part-time wages in the recently-passed 2013 county budget.

Lee proposed that the library be closed on Saturday, and the hours adjusted to 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. The library is currently open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“We would still be open 40 hours to the public,” Lee said. “Right now we’re open 44 hours.”

Lee said the change would make it possible for a staff member to be at the library during open hours, without her or the assistant librarian having to take comp time. Lee explained that Friday afternoons and Saturdays were extremely slow times at the library, with Monday and Tuesday the busiest days.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence said he didn’t understand the need to lengthen the hours four days a week, and close on Saturdays.

“Surely, one of you could take off four or five hours during the week and work on Saturday,” Lawrence said. “I’m against changing it. I guess it depends on what everyone else wants to do.”